Authors Note: Don't own anything in bold so yeah. Thomas owns Thomas and his friends also own themselves.
Losing Motivation
"Let's get snacks" Thomas said with a smile.
"Um why does the snack table have deodorant?" asked Talyn confused.
"Oooooh!" the Duke squeeled racing forward and grabbing ten and immediatly started eating one. "Yummy" he smiled.
"Eewwww!" Thomas and his friends all groaned before grabbing their choices.
While grabbing their choices Thomas made sure to keep an eye on Creativity to make sure he doesn't harass anyone.
"Before we start Duke do you have something to say to Creativity" Thomas asked raising his eyebrow.
"Oh of course. I, my annoying brother, am the one who pranked you" The Duke laughed.
"WHAT! REVERSE IT NOW!" Creativity screamed at the Duke. Anxiety flinched subtly moving behind Logic and Morality for protection.
"Nope, not until you apologise to Anxiety and actually mean it" The Duke teased his brother smirking.
Creativity pouted but didn't make a move to apologise to Anxiety.
"Let's just get on with the series. Two more then we break for fifteen minutes. Then another three and then lunch, We will watch another two then stop for the day to hang out and get to know one another better and start learning cooking and taxes. Sound like a plan?" Thomas asked his sides and friends.
Everyone agreed moving to their chairs. More people decided to recline like Anxiety, planning to relax a bit more through the series. The ones reclining are Lilly, Terence, Talyn, Thomas, Anxiety and Morality. Thomas made sure he could still watch his other sides then turned to the screen.
After a moment of silence the screen flickered to life.
Thomas: Hey, how many YouTubers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One to screw in the lightbulb And another one to help stabilize the ladder during the installation. Thought that was gonna be a joke? Home maintenance is not a joke.
Everyone laughed lightly at that, well Anxiety chuckled, loving the intros to the videos.
Thomas: What is up everybody?! Man, you are in for a treat because for today's video, I got nothin'...
"Why would you start filming if you don't have anything." Valerie asked confused.
"Dunno maybe I had planned to film on this day" Thomas answered.
Logic: Um... I'm sorry, what?!
"Oooo this episode looks to be Logic heavy already." Joan grinned.
Thomas: I don't know, Logic, I just don't really know what to talk about...
[Logic]: Preposterous! There's an infinitesimal amount of things in this bizarre massive universe brimming with exciting mysteries and you don't really know what to talk about?
"Ooo Logic misused the word infinitesimal" Morality grinned.
"Shut up" Logic blushed embarassed that he had made such a simple mistake.
Thomas: Well... I didn't look into any topics and I just kind of flew into this video without any prep...
Logic: Why did you do that?
Thomas: I DON'T KNOW, LOGIC! I KNOW IT DEFIES... LOGIC! I'm just a textbook procrastinator
Logic: Oh no, you procrastinate on a lot more than just reading textbooks.
Everyone laughed while Logic looked confused on why they were laughing.
Logic: But more importantly, procrastination is not the cause, it is the effect a reaction due to something else going on...
Thomas: Wait, really?!
Logic: Any idea what might be causing your lack of motivation?
Thomas: -chortle- If I knew, I probably wouldn't be procrastinating as much
Logic: Then we must get to the bottom of this! What is the culprit? The game is on...
"Logic are you a Sherlock fan?" Thomas asked.
"Yeah" Logic muttered embarrassed.
Thomas: What're you, Sherlock? ...Yesss apparently you are. Didn't take you for the dress-up type...
Logic: This is strictly to get me into mindset for deductive reasoning. All business.
"No you are just enjoying cosplay. There is nothing wrong with having alittle fun sometimes Logic" Talyn smiled over at him.
Morality: I'll be Watson!
Logic: NO, YOU CAN'T PLAY WITH US!
Thomas: All business, huh?
Everyone laughed.
Morality: Sherlock always has a Watson to help with deduction!
Logic: Morality, you play no part in deduction.
Morality: LOOK! I've got a scarf too!
Logic: Is that... are you wearing the cardigan that is usually wrapped around your shoulders?
Morality: I've been waiting for this day to wear it...
"Naww you are just to darn precious Morality" Lilly smiled over at Morality who was blushing slightly.
Thomas: Okay, yeah, you're gonna let him play
Logic: -sigh- Fine.
Morality: YAY!
Logic: Now, Thomas, when you think about getting started with a video, or any other big project, what are some of your immediate feelings?
Thomas: You know, I would say nervousness... I wanna make sure whatever I make, people would enjoy it.
Logic&Morality: AHA!
Everyone jumped.
Logic: You deduced it, too?!
Morality: No! I found a dollar in my pocket! Oh, it was in my cardigan since my character was first introduced, isn't that something? Oh my goodness!
Morality looked inside his cardigan and found the dollar showing Anxiety excited.
Anxiety just smiled. He liked it when Morality was happy.
Logic: ANXIETY!
[A wild Anxiety appears]
Anxiety: Um... Rude much? I was just touching up my eyeshadow...
Logic: You actually look in a mirror to put that on?
Anxiety: Did you actually look in a mirror when you put THAT on?
"OOOO burn" Joan yelled.
"How was I burned there was no fire involved?" Logic asked confused.
"Ugh he means it metaphorically Logic" Anxiety answered.
"Oh" Logic acknowledged.
Logic:Wow. Thomas: Geez.
Anxiety: Can I help you?
Morality: Yeah, do you have any quarters?
Everyone laughed.
Logic: I have grounds to suspect that you are the cause of Thomas's procrastination
Thomas: -distracted chuckle-
Anxiety: Not that I'm disagreeing with you, but what are these grounds?
"Love how calm Anxiety is being about this" Terence smiled.
"Calm on the outside, storm on the inside" Anxiety muttered earning worried looks from Thomas and Morality the only two who heard him.
Logic: Thomas has related to me that he is ANXIOUS
[Anxiety is not impressed]
"Look at that perfect resting bitch face" Joan laughed causing the others to laugh to. Anxiety just blushed.
Logic: about how his video will turn out so, rather than start it, he is avoiding it It's you Anxiety, isn't it? You're the one causing him to worry about those things!
Anxiety: Avoiding things is my specialty... I'm the one who earned him his Temple Run record of 2012
Morality: Ah, memories.
Anxiety: Can't be a bad video if you never make one.
"Kinda true" Talyn laughed.
Thomas: Okay, so, is there anything that can be done?
Logic: I would say the first thing to do is to trust yourself that you have what it takes to do the project well.
Morality: Whatever comes, you have to allow yourself to make mistakes. Not everything can be perfect. It's all a growing process.
Anxiety: And when in doubt, remember that everything we do is all pointless anyway.
"Really Anxiety?" Thomas smiled over at his anxious trait.
"Um trying to help but not help at the same time. My walls are still up" Anxiety murmured.
Thomas reached over and squeezed Anxiety's hand lightly.
Thomas: Bleak. But I appreciate you trying to contribute.
Anxiety: You're not welcome.
Logic: Well, case closed.
Morality: BRILLIANT!
Logic: Elementary, my dear-Daddy...no.. (ship)
Everyone burst into laughter as Logic and Morality blushed.
"Um something you want to tell us you two?" Thomas asked.
"Um we as in Morality and myself, have been dating for two years now" Logic blushed avoiding looking his host in his eyes.
"Oh that's cool" Thomas smiled accepting the relationship which relaxind Logic.
Thomas: Well, actually, I don't know, I mean... I'm sure there's nothing for me to be scared of but I don't know, I'm still not feeling it...
Morality: -GASP-
Thomas: Maybe you know, I can come back to this later.
Logic: Thomas, are you implying that LOGIC was not sound?! Anxiety's the antagonist.
Anxiety: I'm not ALWAYS the bad guy...
Morality: Aw... Of course, you're not, big guy!
"Love how Morality is like super nice to Anxiety even if others are not so positive towards him" Lilly smiled.
"Yeah well Morality s nice to everyone" Anxiety smiled at the moral side.
Morality beamed with joy.
Logic: Of course! That would've been too obvious. There must be something else...
Anxiety: Other than me?
Logic: Think, ponder, deliberate!
Everyone laughed as they read the writing that appeared around Thomas.
Logic: OF COURSE!
Morality: What is it?!
Logic: What do you need to do a video?
Morality: A camera!
Logic: Correct, but think more generally. What starts you down the path on any big job?
Morality: A big job application!
Logic: Why do I even try?!
Everyone laughed.
Anxiety: Can I take a stab?
Logic: WHO GAVE HIM A KNIFE?!
"Why would you think that?!" Anxiety asked alarmed.
"You asked to take a stab so logically you have a knife" Logic answered.
"It's a phrase meaning can I have a go" Anxiety countered.
"Maybe we could make up some vocabulary cards for Logic with words and phrases he should know" Morality wondered out loud.
"That is a great idea Morality" Thomas smiled.
Anxiety: An idea. He needs an idea.
Logic: Oh. Yes.
Thomas: Hmm...
Anxiety: And in order to do that, he needs to be creative. You're looking for his fanciful side.
Princey: You called?
Anxiety: I did not.
Logic: Princey, you are in charge of bringing Thomas inspiration. What happened?
Princey: I'm sorry, what is happening here?
Morality: Logic and I are playing dress-up; Anxiety's making us question our existence! And I found a dollar!
Everyone laughed about how Morality had summed up what has happened so far.
Princey: That dollar you borrowed from me 8 years ago?
Morality: Ah, yeah.
Princey: Thanks, you news-y hipster theater geek-Mark from Rent.
"Creativity you have to be nicer to the others. Alot of your nick names for the others is mean or borberline mean. You act alot like a bully. What happened to being a chivalrous prince" Thomas asked meaningful making sure to make eye contact with Creativity.
Before Creativity could ponder upon Thomas's words the screen started up again diverting his attention though he vowed to think on it more later.
Logic: And Thomas has not gotten started with his video yet and I have reason to believe YOU are the cause of our conundrum!
Princey: Look, I'm out there, living the fanciful dream, okay? He couldn't be struggling because of me. Why not Sunshine over here?
Anxiety: They already ruled me out, Sir Sing-A-Lot.
Princey: Ha! I like that nickname, and I'm gonna use it now!
Thomas: I mean, basic ideas are one thing but a good idea is what I struggle with.
Princey: Well if it's not a perfect idea, it's not good enough. You don't want to put out anything but your best.
Logic: AH! I think I see a spider behind you! No?
"Spiders are evil" Morality whisper yelled.
"Don't worry Morality I can handle spiders" Anxiety whispered to Morality.
"Thanks Anx"
Princey: What?
Logic: Okay, maybe not. It was a shadow. But see there, that's what first drafts are for. It's better to start, get it done, and improve it afterward. If you sit around waiting for inspiration to strike, consistency is unattainable.
Thomas: Oh, man. I do do that.
Morality: -giggle- Doodoo
Everyone giggled at that. Yes giggled even the men.
Princey: Well, I suppose you're right. I shouldn't be so picky
Thomas: Yeah, that has put me in some bad last minute situations before.
Princey: My bad.
Thomas: Okay, so I know just need to get started with an idea but how do I get there? I still feel like putting this whole thing off.
Logic: Well then, that means there's more to this than just Princey... He's just a pawn.
Princey: I am a knight, thank you very much.
Thomas: It's not like this is some big conspiracy. Why do I feel so unmotivated?
Logic: -sigh-
Thomas: It's like my heart's not in it...
Logic: Oh no...
Morality: What?
Logic: How could you do it? I trusted you...
"Stop with the pronoun game and just tell us already" Talyn laughed.
Morality: Way?
Thomas: What is going on?
Anxiety: Something good.
Logic: Thomas said it himself. His heart's not in it. You're basically his heart.
Morality: HUH?!
Princey: Ooh, I like dramatic twists!
Logic: Without you, Thomas lacks the passion to get creative and start this project!
Thomas: Oh, wow!
Morality: I don't mean to, Thomas! I-I wanna be into it!
Thomas: Well, okay if he's the culprit and you don't wanna be, What can we do?
Logic: I don't know! Why do you feel like you're lacking passion?
Morality: I don't know!
Logic: -sigh- Feelings. The bane of my existence.
Princey: Is it because I have a dollar and you don't?
Everyone laughed.
Morality: It's just that when I think about "making a video," it's just this weird, mushy vision.
Thomas: Well that's not.. good.
Morality: It's almost like the whole vision isn't there to begin with.
Logic: Well, yes, we established that in order to have a vision for a video, we need to encourage creativity and come up with a basic idea.
Morality: NO! I mean the whole vision of the creating process!
Logic: What?
Morality: This whole time, we've been trying to get at the root of what causes procrastination. I think this could all really be helped by...
Thomas: ...making a plan to AVOID procrastination.
Princey: Well, who should've done that?
Logic: Me. WAIT. *dunn*
"Oh my god this episode has so many twist in it so good" Lilly laughed. Everyone agreed.
Princey: This is a bigger ending twist than the Oscars.
"Uh wonder what happened at the Oscars" Valerie said curious.
"Dunno but it sounds like it was dramatic" Terence answered.
Thomas: Stop you're dating this video. Don't do that.
Logic: But I, I've been helping figure this out, I'm the cause of this. But I am also the solution to a problem I have caused and will inevitably resolve. Am I in a paradoxical loop where I endlessly generate a problem and try to solve it like a snake devouring its own tail in order to satiate its hunger?!
Thomas: OKAY, calm down time. It's a lot simpler than.. whatever you're trying to say.
Anxiety: That was dark, even for me.
Thomas: Yes, maybe I slipped up by not having you, Logic help me plan ahead to avoid this situation. So many times I finish a project at 4 in the morning My eyes tired, my brain exhausted, and I'm so proud of myself for doing so, I develop this faulty logic that I can tackle all of my projects like that. But that is such a harmful habit to get into.
"That's true its better to work in smaller increments when your not tired that way all the information absorbs better" Logic said.
Thomas: I could've planned ahead, working in intervals, and taking breaks in order to keep my spirits up. I could have gone to another more productive location with less distractions like a library might've helped me brainstorm and get a little more creative. And a proper plan to address a big project would definitely cut down a lot of the nervousness I feel when starting it.
Anxiety: But not completely.
Thomas: Shush. And make a face of agreement like everyone else.
Everyone even Anxiety laughed at the onscreen version of Anxiety's face of agreement.
Thomas: But don't feel bad, we'll do better next time. And like Morality said, we should be okay with forgiving ourselves because sometimes procrastination and mistakes happen.
Morality: Yeah! All that matters is we put our noodles together and make a beautiful... pasta salad.
Logic: You never suspect yourself... But okay! A plan shall be formulated for the next video, that is certain.
Princey: And look this video made itself!
Anxiety: And as usual, you are completely unnecessary.
Princey: HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO SIR SING-A-LONG THAT WAY! See, now I gotta sink out all over again. Rude.
Everyone laughed. Even Anxiety who had flinched slightly at the raised voice.
Thomas: I do wanna thank you two for helping me.
Logic: Another case closed! And it's all thanks to a brilliant deduction! From Watson.
Morality: Who?
Logic: Never mind...
Morality: Alright, Logan! That's funny, I could've sworn I had a dollar on me...
Everyone laughed.
"Wait he said Logan instead of Logic, What I'm confused" Thomas said looking towards his logical side for an explanation.
"Well we all have our names apart from what we are. Logan is my name. Logic is my function." Logic answered.
"Oh so what are all your names?" Thomas asked his sides.
"Mine's Patton" Morality beamed.
"Mine's Roman! Creativity answered dramatically.
"I'm Remus" The Duke laughed.
"I'm so gonna tell you my name" sniffed Deciet looking away.
"Um maybe later I'll tell you my name Thomas. There is a level of trust when telling someone your name and I have that trust with you. I'm just working on building my courage to tell you" Anxiety said looking at Thomas but avoiding eye contact.
"That's fine Anxiety you tell me your name when you are ready. And Deciet that goes for you to" Thomas said looking at his two quieter sides.
"Let's continue" Thomas said looking to the screen.
Thomas: Why did he call you Logan?
Logic: That is my name.
Thomas: Your name is... Logan?
Logic: Yes. You didn't think I was just logic, did you?
Thomas: ... Does that mean the others have names?
Logic: Thomas, can you keep it down? I'm trying to make a plan.
Everyone laughed at the avoided answer.
Thomas: Okaaay... Well, If you all find yourselves lacking motivation or procrastinating, I hope you're able to deduce the reasons behind it and you can use any of the ways we covered to fight against it. Do your best to plan ahead and until next time... Take it easy guys, gals, and non-binary pals! PEACE OUT!
"That was great" Thomas smiled.
Everyone agreed.
"Endcard" everyone laughed looking to the screen.
Princey: Wow, I felt like a side character in today's video That will not stand
Anxiety: Who are you calling?
Princey: My agent, but I've forgotten my password so it's barred.
Anxiety: You mean locked?
Princey: Sure, locked.
Logic: SHERLOCCKKKK
Logic: SHERLOCCKKKK [Morality]: AND WATSONNNN
Anxiety: Oh for crying out loooud!
Prince: Make it stoooop!
"That his very loud" Anxiety murmured to Patton as an explaination.
"Oh well we will watch that in the future Anx" Patton smiled slightly to let him know he understood.
"Ok one more then we'll stop for a fifteen minut break" Thomas said.